Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this bill to extend the National Flood Insurance Program, as administered by FEMA, until September 30, 2010. About 90 percent of all flood insurance policies nationwide are provided through the National Flood Insurance Program, and nearly half of those policies are held in my home State of Florida. Flood insurance in a hurricane-prone State is not merely a necessity; it is a requirement for those homeowners with mortgages. For nearly 1 month, prospective homeowners in my congressional district of south Florida have been in limbo. Unable to secure the required flood insurance, these individuals and families have been unable to close on their homes. Their frustration is palpable. New buyers in the housing market are needed to help my congressional district recover from this economic downturn. At a time when the Federal Government is increasing incentives for homeownership, it is utterly bizarre that Congress would fail to extend a program that is required for many mortgages to be finalized. The National Flood Insurance Program is a necessity, and its extension should not be subject to partisan politics. This bill extends the program until the end of September, but it must be extended for several years so that homeowners can buy and sell their properties without worries. This uncertainty produced by Band-Aid extensions of the flood insurance program is hurting an already ailing housing market.”